The Financial Times posts their observation of the recent increase of Do-It-Yourself projects and services. This should be no surprise to Fabbaloo readers, but it’s definitely true. More and more people are taking on DIY projects for a variety of purposes. Why is this so?
We believe the convergence of several factors has led to a surge in DIY interest:
- The widespread availability of inexpensive design and modeling software
- The emergence of “maker” communities (including this blog, MAKE magazine and numerous other digital sources) that spread interest and information
- The availability of inexpensive manufacturing equipment, be it either low-cost equipment or low-cost service bureaus
- A creative attitude fomented by discussions within open source communities and dissatisfaction with typically available products
- A lot of free time for many inconvenienced by recent financial difficulties
Mix those together, and what else would you get?
And add the whole Steampunk culture to the mix and you have instant “hipness”.
Now where did I put that difference engine….